Stock-rack



(No Model.)

J. L. WILBER.

STOCK RACK.

Patented Oct. 20, 1885.

- UNITE STATES arena tries JAMES L. wiLBEn, or FARMINGTON, MICHIGAN.

STOCK- RACK.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 328,868, dated October 20, 1885.

Application filcd May 13, 1885.

.To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES L. WILBER, of Farmington, in the county of Oakland and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stock-Racks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in combined hay and stock racks.

The invention consists in the peculiar con-' struction and arrangement of the rack-frames and the means employed for securing them to and upon wagon-boxes, either in the form of. a hay-rack or in the form of a rectangular or stock rack with vertical sides and ends, all as more fully hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Figure l is a perspective View of a wagonbody provided with my improved rack, the same being set up as a stock-rack. Fig. 2 is a similar view with the rack in position as a hayrack. Figs. 3 and 4 are details of construction.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, A represents the sides of my improved rack, which consist of two or more longitudinal slats, a, which are secured together near their ends by transverse bars I), sufficiently far apart so that when placed upon the wagon-box they will come just outside the two end boards of such box. Intermediately between these transverse bars I) the slats a are tied together by metallic or wooden bars 0, the lower ends of which project equal distances below the lower edge of the bottom slat of the rack sides, and such lower projecting ends of the tie-bars c terminating in a hook, c, bent outwardly at right angles to the body of the bars, Fig. 8.

B are the end-gates, which are always constructed of horizontal slats 11, there being pref erably three of them, the center one being somewhat the longest and projecting an equal distance at each side of the gate, andthese slats d are secured together by the transverse or vertical bars 6, the lower ends of which project beyond the lower edge of the bottom slat of the end-gate.

0 represents a suitable brace, which is formed from a suitable and preferablyaround bar of iron bent to a U shape with its ends Serial No. 165,296. (No model.)

bent outwardly at right angles and parallel with the horizontal portion of the brace, and such bent ends are designed to engage with and pass through an elongated slot or'opening in the tie-bars c of the side frames of the rack, such braces being retained in position and pivotally secured to the box D by means of suitable turn-buckles,f,immediately above the 1 step 9, with which the majorityof farm-wagon boxes are provided. The ends of this brace, after passing through the slots in the tie-bars, are provided with nuts 0 by tightening which, after the side frames are raised into a vertical position, the said frames may be held in such position while the tailgates are put in position and will assist the gate in holding the side frames. Thus the braces G serve as such both when the device is used as a hay-rack and as a stock-rack.

WVhen it is desired to use a hay-rack, the side frames, A, of the rack are placed upon the wagon-box D, as shown in Fig. 2, the transverse bars I) of the side frames being notched at b to rest upon the projecting ends of the sides of the box, while their ends engage with and beneath suitable stop-brackets, E, upon the outer faces of the tail-boards of the box, while the braces O assume the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4., their ends sliding up in the slots of the tie-bars c and to the ends of such slots, thus thoroughly bracing the central portions of the sides A against depression of asuperimposed load. In order that the side frames, A, cannot sag or be bulged outwardly at this point, the lower ends of the tie-bars c, which are hook-formed, as above described, are inserted through a proper opening made in the edge of the box coincident with them, and also through the stay-plate or strap-iron which laps over the edge of the box and which is employed for the purpose of preventing the bottom of the box from sagging. When employed in this manner, the end gates of the rack are not used. In this construction it will be seen that the entire structure is outside of the box, leaving such box clear and unobstructed to receive a load.

To transform this rack now into a stockrack, the side frames, A, are raised into a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1, the lower ends of the tie'bars a resting upon the upper edge of the box. The endgates are now in- Fig. 1, thus securely locking the sides and end sections of the box together, and when the parts of the rack are in these positions it will ,be observed that the braces 0 have assumed a vertical position upon the outside.

When the device is used as a hay-rack, the end-gates of the box proper should be rigidly secured in place by any convenient means, so that the load upon the side racks could not lift them up.

I am aware of the Patents Nos. 192,804, 231,003, and 265,979, and make no claim to the constructions shown therein as forming part of my invention.

1 What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination,with the wagon-box D, and the side frames, A, having slotted tie-bars c, of the braces O, pivotally secured to said wagon-box, and their free ends passed through the slots in said tie-bars, and provided with 30 nuts 0 substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination,with the wagon-box D, of the side frames, A, having slotted tie-bars 0, each terminating at one end in a hook, 0, adapted to engage a hole in the edge of the box, and the stay-plate thereon, substantially as described.

3. The combination,with the wagon-box D, having stop-brackets E, of the side-frames, A, provided with slats a, slotted tie-bars a, and end bars, I), notched as shown, and the braces O, pivotally secured to the said box by the turn-buckles f, and their free ends passing through the slots in said tie-bars, and provided with nuts 0 as and for the purposes specified.

4.. The combination, with the wagon-box D, of the side frames, A, having slats a, provided with notches m, and the end-gates B, having slats d, the center one of which projects upon either side of the gate, and the cleats it, upon the projecting ends of said center slat, substantially as and forv the purpose specified.

JAMES L. WILBER.

WVitnesses:

H. S. SPRAGUE, CHARLES J. HUNT. 

